Gearing



'i'. H. MARS.

GEARING.

APPLICATION mzo ran. 19, 1920.

Pm/emed July 4, 19220.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. H. MARS.

GEARING.

APPLICATIQN FILED FEB-19, 1920.

mm July 11922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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GENG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ma a, was.

Application filed February 19, 1920. Serial No. 359,979.

To all whom it may concern citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Gearing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a' full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto the letters of reference, marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin gearing, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the. appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient gearing especially adapted for embodiment in a Washing machine of the oscillating cylinder type, for imparting a rotary oscillating movement to the clothes receiving cylinder thereof.

The several advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in front end elevation of an oscillating cylinder washing machine, to which my improved gearing has been applied.

Figure 2 is a tnansverse, horizontal section through the front end of the washing vmachine, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through said front end of the washing machine, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 5 indicates as a whole, a main support for the gearing which as illustrated herein, is the frame of a Washing machine of the oscillating cylinder type. Said frame includes a tub 6 which is mounted at its corners upon front and rear pairs of upright legs, only the front pair of legs 7 being herein shown. Preferably, said front pair of legs are cast integral and are connected together at their top ends by a transverse bar or rail 8, and at about their middle by an irregularly shaped bracket 9, upon which is mounted the gearing as a whole.

The tub 6 has the usual rounded bottom wall which blends into upright side walls and has front and rear upright end walls, only the front wall 10 being shown in this instance. Said front wall 10 is spaced inwardly from the plane of the front legs 7 so as to provide a compartment 11 (see Figs. 2 and 3) to receive the bracket 9 before referred to. In the tub is mounted a clothes receiving cylinder 12, which is capable of rotary oscillating movement therein, the front wall of said cylinder having a bearing plate 13, arranged above the center of gravity of said cylinder, and adapted for detachable engagement with an operating shaft as will presently appear.

The bracket 9, which as before mentioned and shown, is cast integral with the front legs 7 and top rail 8, includes a rear upright flange 15 arranged adjacent the wall 10 of the tub, a bottom horizontal latform 16 of a'plan area equal to that o the compartment 11, and a top horizontal platform 17 that is connected to the platform 16 by. a vertical, longitudinally extending web 18, arranged midway between the legs 7. An open top box-like casing 19 is also included in said bracket, near the left hand leg 7, in a plane between the top and bottom platforms 16 and 17, respectively.

On the top platform 17, in a vertical plane midway between the legs 7, is an upright ear 20 which together with the top end of the upright rear flange 15, is apertured to provide aligned bearing for an operating shaft 21. This shaft projects through the upright wall 10 of the tub and within the same is provided with ahead 22, that includes a rib or spline 23 adapted to be engaged by the bearin plate 13 on the clothes cylinder 12. A gas (et 21 is provided between the end wall 10 and that end of the bracket 15, through which the shaft 21 extends. Loosely mounted on said shaft, adjacent the ear 20, is a crank arm 24 the hub of which is formed to rovide a clutch member 25. Keyed on said shaft between said hub and the uprightflange 15 so as to r0- tate with but be movable endwise on said shaft, is a clutch collar 26, adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with its associated clutch member on the hub of the crank arm. The clutch collar 26 has the usual peripheral groove between its ends for the reception of a'small ,bell crank shifting lever 27, carried by the inner end of a transversely arranged rock shaft 28. Said rock shaft is journa led near; its ends in a forwardly extending car 29, on the flange 15 and'in an upright ear 30 (see Fig. 2) rising from the rear end of the platform 17 in the vertical plane of the left hand leg 7. The outer end of the rock shaft is bent to provide a crank handle 31, which projects through an arcuate slot in one of the side walls of the machine frame so as to be easily grasped by the operator. It is apparent that by actuation of said crank handle, the clutch collar 26, may be engaged with and disen-- gaged from the associated clutch member on the hub 25 of the crank arm 24.

On the top platform 17 near the left hand leg 7 of the machine frame, are front and rear aligned, upright bearing sleeves 33 and 34, respectively, in which is journaled a longitudinally extending, horizontal shaft 35, parallel with the operating shaft 21. Fixed to the rear end of this shaft is a large worm gear 36 which extends through a suitable hole 37, in the platform 17 to mesh with a worm gear 38, secured to a transversely arranged shaft 39 that is journaled in ears 40 providing the end walls of the box-like casing 19 before mentioned. A suitable end thrust bearing- 41, is provided between one end of said worm and the associated ear 40 of said casing 19. The shaft 39 is connected by a suitable slip clutch coupling 42 to the aligned armature shaft 43 of an electric motor 44, mounted on the bottom platform 16, there being a suitable hole in the upright web 18, through which the armature shaft extends.

The worm ear 36 carries a crank pin 45 on its rear side, which is connected by a pitman 46, to a forwardly projecting crank pin 47 on thefree end of the crank arm 24. From the construction just described, it is apparent that the worm 38 is driven by the motor 44 and in turn drives the worm gear 36 which through the pitman 46 and crank pins 45 and 47 rocks the crank arm 24 in a path described by the arcuate line 48 to the limits indicated at 49, which are arranged at an equal angle on each side of the vertical plane of the operating shaft. It is here pointed outthat the axis of the shaft 35 is located in the horizontal plane of the limits of movement of the crank pin 47 on the crank arm 24 asindicated at 49, which is above the axis of the operating shaft. Thus an even and steady movement is imparted the crank arm 24 without jerking at the reversal of movement of said crank arm at both limits of its swing. Thus the load of the cylinder, when the clutch collar 26 is engaged with the hub 25 of said crank arm, will not unduly strain or spring the parts nor produce any undue wear.

When the motor 44 is running and the the crank arm 24 which is loose on the opcrating shaft, rocks idly about said shaft as an axis.

Fixed to the shaft 35 between the cars 33, 34 is a forwardly facing bevel gear 50, which meshes with a downwardly facing bevel gear 51 fixed to a vertical shaft 52, arranged in the vertical plane of said shaft 35. The vertical shaft 52 is journaled near its top end in a bearing sleeve 53, made integral with the top rail 8, and left hand leg 7, and is 'journaled near its bottom end in an ear 54 which extends laterally inward from said leg. The end of the shaft 52 extends into a suitable gear box 55 carrying a clothes wringer 56 which may be swung in a horizontal plane about the shaft 52 as an axis into the desired position and locked therein by a hand wheel 57 (see Fig. The gear box 55, which includes a cover 58, contains the reverse gears for the wringer rolls, said gears being controlled by a shifter handle 59.

The construction ofthe clothes wringer above mentioned, is fully set forth in my co-pending application, filed February 19, 1920, and bearing Serial No. 359,980.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the improved gearing possesses many advantages. the horizontal plane, of the limits of the swing of the crank arm 24, permits of an even and steady swing to said crank arm. By making the front frame of the machine integral so as to include the legs, top rail and bracket, insures against warping and undue strains. The construction also above described, permits of the use of a single piece operating shaft of suflicient diameter which has amplebearing near its ends an readily withstands the torque imposed upon it.

While in describing my invention, I have referred to certain details ofmechanical construction and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with a support including a bracket having an upright back flange and top and bottom platforms, an oscillating operating shaft journaled in said back flange and top platform. a crank arm loose on said operating shaft, means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said crank arm to said operating shaft, a second shaft on the top platform parallel-,- with the operating shaft, a gear on said second shaft and a pitman connecting said gear with said crank arm, a motor on said bottom platform, and means between said platforms for operativelv connecting the motor with the gear.

2. In combination with a support including a bracket having an upright back flange and top and bottom platforms, an oscillating operating shaft journalled in said back Locating the axis of the shaft 35 in flange and top platform, a crank arm loose on the operating shaft adapted to be connected and disconnected from said operating shaft, a crank pin on said crank arm, adapted to travel in an arcuate path to limits equidistant apart on each side of the axis of the operating shaft, a second shaft on said top platform parallel with the operating shaft, a gear on said second shaft, the axis of said second shaft being located in the horizontal plane .of the limits of movement of the crank pin, a pitman connecting said gear with the crank pin and a motor on the bottom platform for driving said gear.

'3. In combination with a support including a bracket having an u right back flange and top and bottom plat orms, an oscillating operating shaft journalled in said back flange and top platform, a crank arm loose on'the operating shaft, adapted to be connected and disconnected from said operating shaft, a crank pin on said crank arm, adapted to travel in an arcuatepath to limits equidistant apart on each sideof the axis of the operating shaft, a second shaft on said top platformto one side of but parallel with said operating shaft, a worm gear on said shaft, a pitman connecting said worm gear with said crank pin, a drive shaft journalled in the bracket plate below and extending at a right angle to said second shaft, a worm on the drive shaft meshing with the worm gear, and a motor on the bottom platform to the other side of the operating shaft, operatively connected to said drive shaft.

4. In combination with a support which includes upright legs and an integral bracket connecting said legs at their middle, said bracket including an upright back flange and top and bottom horizontal platforms with an intermediate box-like casing, an oscillating operating shaft journaledin said back flange and on said top platform, a second shaft, journaled on said top platform parallel with said operating shaft, a crank arm loosely mounted on said operating shaft and adapted to be connected with and disconnected therefrom, a worm gear on said second shaft, a pitman connecting said worm gear with said crank arm, a worm in said box-like casing meshing'with said worm.

gear, and a motor carried on said bottom platform of the bracket for driving said worm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of February, A. D. 1990.

THOMAS H. MARS.

Witnesses:

' T. H. ALrREns,

EDITH A. Bnnmzn. 

